Background

Little is known about the causes and consequences of renal disease among American Indians in the Great Lakes region of the United States.

Methods

We examined clinical correlates of albumin/creatinine ratios among 1368 participants in the three tribal communities of the Inter-Tribal Heart Project using univariate and multivariate analysis.

Results

Compared to 1086 participants without albuminuria, the 240 with microalbuminuria (30 to 299 mg/g) and the 42 with macroalbuminuria (>300 mg/g) were more likely to report a history of a myocardial infarction (6.4%, 16.0%, and 23.8%, respectively, P<0.001).

Similarly, compared to patients without albuminuria, those with microalbuminuria and macroalbuminuria were more likely to report a history of stroke (2.3%, 8.4% and 26.2%, respectively, P<0.001).